A heritage trust with the power to acquire at-risk properties it feels have significant heritage value has been set up by Minister for the Environment Dick Roche.
Minister for the Environment Dick Roche
The Irish Heritage Trust, which will operate as a charity, will provide for the conservation, maintenance and presentation of the properties.
The new trust is the result of a steering group report set up by the Minister last November. The trust will be headed up by Sir David Davies, a banker and businessman, who headed up the steering committee that advised the Minister.
A spokeswoman for the Minister said Sir David has a "long term interest" in heritage buildings and was also involved in sponsoring the report A Future of Irish Historic Houses? - A Study of Fifty Houses.
The board also includes Desmond FitzGerald, art historian and the current president of the Irish Georgian Society; Samantha Leslie, owner and manager of Castle Leslie, Co Monaghan; and Carmel Naughton, former chairman of the board of governors and guardians of the National Gallery of Ireland.
All three also sat on the steering committee.
"Engagement with the public will be a major element of the Trust's brief, and ensuring that important heritage places are available for public enjoyment in perpetuity is a very important part of the Trust's remit," said Mr Roche.
Under plans outlined in the Budget 2006, donors of properties to the Irish Heritage Trust will be able to take advantage of a new tax relief - up to €6 million in any one year.
"In addition to the supports for donations in the Finance Act, funding of €5 million will be provided in 2006 to enable the endowment funds to be established by the Trust," the Minister said.